The Forbidden Light [BL] Chapter 7: Broken Wings

So cold..., thought Haru, as a few more tears slid down his cheeks.

He felt weak. Haru coughed.

I think I have a fever... I just keep sleeping because I can’t do anything else.

And I feel this sickness getting worse. It’s almost like I’m slowly giving myself up to death.

Suddenly, he heard a loud snap. He felt the ropes loosen their grip.

Slowly and wearily from his poor condition, Haru rolled onto his back.

"Sh-shion?" he whispered, blinded by the sunlight.

Then he felt the cold, bony fingers pressing against his throat.

"Damn it, I have to do everything myself," a female voice said above him. He recognized it – it was the sa goddess who had talked to the wind god earlier. He studied her closely.

She had short, straight gray hair and large red eyes. Instead of arms, she had wings like an eagle’s that ended in human hands.

If they were claws, Haru would already be dead.

The goddess was very thin, even emaciated.

The goddess was very thin, even frail. Physically exhausted, Haru now felt even more drained by the fever, but he still tried to resist.

His hands barely reached hers. Haru grabbed her wrists, but quickly lost all strength.

"I don’t have power like the other gods, it’s all because of Hoshigane! And you... you dared to be born as the key?"

"I-I’m sorry..." Haru croaked.

Is this how I’ll die?

I didn’t have a bad life. I couldn’t complain, though the last few days were pretty crazy.

I’m sorry, Shion. You’ll have to find another key.

On the verge of death, Haru heard the goddess scream in surprise.

"Haru!" Shion called out, his voice filled with care.

"How could you betray , Zeyun?!" she rasped.

"Sorry not sorry, I made a better deal with him," said Zeyun, landing on the nest.

Without hesitation, Shion leapt off the wind god’s back and drove his katana into the unsuspecting goddess’s stomach. Then, gripping the hilt hard, he pushed her off the cliff with his foot, pulling the sword from her body at the sa ti.

The goddess, shocked, bleeding and screaming, fell into the clouds.

"You overdid it," the wind god said angrily. "I’ll fly down to save her. Wait here for . When I bring her back, I’ll make sure you return safely."

The god disappeared, diving toward the earth.

"Haru!" the prince ran to his key.

Shion lifted him gently, supporting his head and back.

He noticed the red finger marks on Haru’s neck. Anger and frustration rushed through him – if he had been late, or t a less helpful or more tricky god, Haru, along with any chance for a normal life, would have died

Shion... so you are here after all?

thought barely conscious Haru, touching the prince’s cheek, just like Shion had touched his face in the dream.

Haru smiled softly, then blushed.

His lips are so close. I wonder what they feel like? Smooth and soft? Probably.

I want to sohow thank him, for these few strange and exciting days in my life.

Despite all the chaos, I had fun. How can I tell him?

Well, whatever, I’m probably going to die anyway...

"Shion, lean closer," Haru whispered.

The prince said nothing. He embraced him more tenderly, as if to protect him from his illness.

Haru didn’t want to admit that he fell in love with the prince right at he first sight.

That Shion’s eyes – so empty, so dark and deep – made him want to know what’s hidden behind them.

Haru knew he could express that in another way.

He kissed Shion, for a mont and softly, like a whisper of wind. He felt himself losing consciousness again, but didn’t care.

Nothing held him back anymore, nothing stopped him, because around them there were only clouds.

The sun rose above the horizon, and with it, a new day began...

*

Haru woke up in his room.

He slowly opened his large honey‑colored eyes. First, he stared at the canopy of his bed, then held out his hands in front of him and studied them.

Huh? I... I’m alive?!

Haru sat up.

So that ans...

I’m such an idiot! What did I just do?! he thought, his face burning with embarrassnt.

Who are we to each other now?! I‑I’m his servant, right?

No, Shion said I’m sothing between a servant and...

Eh! To hell with it. Either way, he’s way above in the court hierarchy.

I need to et him as fast as I can and clear this up!

Haru jumped out of bed quickly. He was about to stand and go sowhere when suddenly chills overtook him. He hid back under the covers and started shaking.

"Boss, are you up already? I heard so noise. Can I co in?" Gari asked.

"Y‑ye‑yes," Haru replied in a trembling voice.

"Oh wow, you’re completely wiped out," she said with genuine worry.

"Gari, is there sothing you could do for ?"

"Of course!" she replied with a wide smile.

"P‑please help get to Shion’s office. I‑I need to talk to h‑him."

"I don’t know... I promised Maldie I wouldn’t let you go, no matter what."

"Please. It’s really important. It’s about what happened recently."

"I don’t know..." Gari said, looking serious and thoughtful.

"If you help now, when I get better, I’ll take you out for a good beer after work."

The half‑dragon didn’t need to think twice.

"Okey‑dokey! You really know how to get ," she said, laughing. "But putting that aside, if it’s really as important as you say, I’m glad I can help."

Haru nodded. Then, still shivering, he stood up. He put on his slippers, and Gari took him under her arm. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to walk because of the intense trembling.

"Are you sure you want to go to him like this? No fancy clothes or makeup? I an, your silk nightdress is nice, but you look – no wait, I didn’t an it..."

"It’s alright."

By the ti Haru and Gari reached the prince’s office, Maldie had already been there — the room was empty.

Maldie clenched her fist in anger.

"I swear I’ll turn that stupid lizard into a coin purse!" she ground out through her teeth.

*

Haru entered Shion’s office. He managed to walk from the door to the chair across the ruler’s desk on his own, as if being near the prince gave him strength.

"Haru? What are you doing here?" Shion asked, surprised. "I an, I’m glad you ca, but you should be in bed resting. You’ve got a nasty cold. Oh, maybe you’ve finished writing your apology letters?"

"I’ll give it to you later. Sh-shion, I ca because... I want to ask you who we are to each other," he said, looking to the side. And imdiately turned bright red.

"You’re my key. The key to curing my curse."

"Not that! I an, after the... thing."

"Sorry, I don’t really understand..." the prince replied, slightly thrown.

"After the last ti! When you saved from being kidnapped by the gods and then... then..." Haru sighed. He had a feeling that if he didn’t say it aloud, nothing would change. "I kissed you on the mountaintop among the clouds, damn it!"

"Huh? Did we really do that?" the prince asked, even more confused. "Are you sure it wasn’t just a dream?"

"How could it be a dream if I rember the touch of your lips?!" he shouted in growing irritation. His lips quivered slightly.

"I’m sorry, Haru. I don’t have any mory of anything like that happening between us. Forgive , I understand your anger, but... maybe it was just a very realistic dream? So people have dreams like this."

"Never mind! Forget I said anything!" he yelled, then stood up and left.

"Haru, wait..." Shion whispered, then sighed.

The prince didn’t understand why Haru had decided to make a scene. Without further thought, he went back to the paperwork waiting for him.

Haru leaned against the door. He started sniffling.

"Boss, are you okay?"

Thick, sorrowful tears stread down his cheeks.

"Y-yes..."

How the hell could he forget about our first kiss?!

So all of that was for nothing!? Why do I even care?

"Boss, forgive , but in your current state it’ll be faster this way. Too bad I didn’t think of it earlier..."

Gari lifted Haru and carried him to his room. Haru tried to hold back crying so Shion wouldn’t hear.

When they reached the room, Maldie was already waiting with a pan in her hand. She was about to punish Gari with it, but then noticed Haru.

Gari gently lowered his legs.

"What happened?" Maldie asked, worried.

"He wanted to go to Shion so badly, I couldn’t refuse, but then he ca out in tears and..."

Sothing inside Haru broke.

"He doesn’t... he doesn’t rember! He doesn’t rember our first kiss!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs in a burst of emotion, then cried his heart out.